The Best Classic Chili – This traditional chili recipe is just like mom used to make with ground beef, beans, and a simple homemade blend of chili seasonings.
This classic chili is perfect for a weeknight meal because it can be made in minutes. The only thing to chop is an onion.
How do you make good homemade chili?
- Heat olive in a large soup pot.
- Add chopped onion and cook for 5 minutes.
- Add ground beef and break it apart with a wooden spoon.
- Cook for 6-7 minutes.
- Add chili powder, cumin, sugar, tomato paste, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and optional cayenne.
- Stir until well combined.
- Add diced tomatoes, kidney beans, beef broth, and tomato sauce.
- Stir well.
- Simmer for 20-25 minutes.
- Let the chili rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.
What do you top chili with?
In addition to the chili ingredients listed in this recipe for chili, you may also want to have these things as toppings.
- shredded cheddar cheese
- sour cream
- sliced green onions
- saltine crackers or oyster crackers
- diced avocado
What goes well with chili for dinner?
I’ve been playing around with this chili recipe for the past few months, making it many times. My family didn’t mind the repetition at all because I really do believe that I ended up with the best chili ever!
Watch the step by step recipe video for this chili recipe below.
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The Best Classic Chili Recipe
The Best Classic Chili - This traditional chili recipe is just like mom used to make with ground beef, beans, and a simple homemade blend of chili seasonings.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Video
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion -diced
- 1 pound 90% lean ground beef
- 2 1/2 tablespoons chili powder
- 2 tablespoons ground cumin
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper* -optional
- 1 1/2 cups beef broth
- 1 (15 oz.) can petite diced tomatoes
- 1 (16 oz.) can red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
- 1 (8 oz.) can tomato sauce
Instructions
- Add the olive oil to a large soup pot and place it over medium-high heat for two minutes. Add the onion. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add the ground beef to the pot. Break it apart with a wooden spoon. Cook for 6-7 minutes, until the beef is browned, stirring occasionally.
- Add the chili powder, cumin, sugar, tomato paste, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and optional cayenne. Stir until well combined.
- Add the broth, diced tomatoes (with their juice), drained beans, and tomato sauce. Stir well.
- Bring the liquid to a low boil. Then, reduce the heat (low to medium-low) to gently simmer the chili, uncovered, for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Remove the pot from the heat. Let the chili rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Notes
I typically skip the cayenne pepper because I have a young kiddo. Then, I put out some hot sauce for those adults that want to add some spiciness to their chili.
Nutrition
Serving: 1/6th of the recipe | Calories: 334kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 49mg | Sodium: 1249mg | Potassium: 1110mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 1445IU | Vitamin C: 12.8mg | Calcium: 99mg | Iron: 7.5mg
Check out all of my great ground beef recipes.
I didn’t realize how hot the cayenne pepper was going to make this chili. I don’t cook with it often. I would suggest cutting it in half or omitting it if you do not like spicy! Otherwise this is a great recipe. We enjoyed it!
Best chili ever!!! Thank you for the recipe!
I added cinnamon and an extra can of kidney beans.
Best chili I’ve ever made!
I’ve never liked my homemade chili, so I stopped making it. I’ve searched recipes trying others, I still wasn’t satisfied. I made this recipe this week and I absolutely love it. I now have a recipe that I will continue to make.
almost made this exactly as the recipe but i ran out of cumin and used a sugar substitute. it still tasted great! will be using this recipe as long as i make chili.
Ez and good recipe, great quick dinner 😋
Easy and definitely delicious! So glad I found the recipe and gave it a try. Keeping the recipe as one of my favorites. My husband said I should make a pot of it monthly during our Wisconsin winter.
Absolutely simple and delicious.
The best chili I’ve ever made!
Very good recipe. The only change I will make next time is to decrease the amount of cumin used. It was a bit strong for my taste. This recipe is definately a keeper!
Every time I make chili this is the recipe I use. Very easy to make and the results are family pleasing.
Best means best! I use the recipe just like it is here at home I use venison. Use it for students and I use it for home.
Great recipe!
My daughter prefers impossible meat so I use a package of it instead of chop meat.
I also add Tabasco sauce. Everyone in the family enjoys it.
This recipe is a GREAT classic, traditional chili! This will be my go-to standard from now on. Perfect with some Fritos corn chips, shredded cheddar, and a spoon of sour cream.
Easy to make and taste fabulos!
This recipe was fantastic!! I did not put in the cayenne pepper but used a can of diced tomatoes with green chilies. Just enough kick without overpowering the great taste of the chilli.